The United Kingdom officially left the European Union on Friday, formally ending its 47-year membership to the continental bloc.
The official exit from the EU, which came after months of protracted negotiations in London regarding the logistics of the break, thrust Britain into new territory regarding its relationship with the rest of the continent.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had been an outspoken advocate of separating from the EU, hailed Brexit as an “extraordinary” moment for the U.K.
“Tonight we have left the EU – an extraordinary turning point in the life of this country. Let us come together now to make the most of all the opportunities Brexit will bring – and let’s unleash the potential of the whole UK,” he tweeted.
Brexit was first put into motion in 2016 when 52 percent of British voters supported a referendum to leave the EU. The break has since produced fierce divisions in the U.K., with advocates saying Brexit would boost the country’s independence and detractors arguing that the move would isolate the U.K. and hamper its standing on the world stage.
Johnson addressed the divisions in an address to the nation, saying the government would work to unite the country and move “forward.”
“For many people, this is an astonishing moment of hope, a moment they thought would never come. And there are many of course who feel a sense of anxiety and loss. And then there’s a third group — perhaps the biggest — who had started to worry that the whole political wrangle would never come to an end,” he said.
“I understand all those feelings, and our job as the government, my job, is to bring this country together now and take us forward,” he added.
Johnson also expressed optimism about the U.K.’s new standing, saying it granted an independence to take necessary action on a range of issues.
“This is the moment when the dawn breaks and the curtain goes up on a new act in our great national drama,” he said. “And yes, it’s partly about using these new powers, this recaptured sovereignty, to deliver the changes the people voted for.”
The official break sets the stage for a diplomacy spree to renegotiate Britain’s trade relations and other ties with its European neighbors and beyond. Johnson and President Trump have both expressed optimism that Washington and London can approve a rehashed trade agreement shortly following Brexit.
“President Donald J. Trump has long supported the United Kingdom’s sovereign decision to withdraw from the European Union,” Robert Johnson, the U.S. ambassador to the U.K., said in a statement. “Now that the U.K. is back in control of its own trade policy, we look forward to achieving a broad Free Trade Agreement that will increase prosperity and create jobs in both our countries.”
European officials expressed sadness at Britain’s departure from the EU, but maintained that they would work to mitigate any impacts of the break.
“It’s never a happy moment when someone leaves but we are opening a new chapter,” said European Council President Charles Michel. “We will devote all our energy to building a stronger, more ambitious #EU. With 27 strong democracies, strong values, freedoms, 22 million businesses, and the biggest single market.”
“I am sad to see our British friends leave the EU,” added European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde. “We will act within our mandate to ensure Brexit causes as little disruption as possible for the citizens, employers and financial markets of the euro area. We look with confidence towards the future, united as Europeans.”
Formal negotiations between London and Brussels on trade and other issues are anticipated to begin late next month or in early March.
Updated: 6:47 p.m.